Compare towns
Richmond vs Bennington vs Williston vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Ferrisburgh has the most homeowners (85.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Richmond | Bennington | Williston | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
15,249Highest |
10,144 |
2,661Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±4.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| Richmond and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.